Paraprofessional - Special Education

MCLEAN COUNTY UNIT DISTRICT #5; Normal (IL); On-site; USD 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Parkside in MCLEAN COUNTY UNIT DISTRICT #5 is seeking a Paraprofessional - Special Education to support students with learning disabilities, autism, or mild behaviours within a general education setting under the guidance of the Principal/Assistant Principal.

Responsibilities include coordinating with teachers, preparing materials, supervising students, and assisting with behavior management. The role requires an educator license via ROE #17 and strong communication skills.

Qualifications

• Must have a registered license with Regional Office of Education #17 at hire.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to work with teachers, staff, administrators, and the public.
• Enforce school regulations and policies professionally.
• Maintain good working relationships with colleagues and pupils.
• Must lift up to 50 lbs; push/pull up to 10 lbs.
• Must be detailed oriented.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates instructional efforts with classroom teachers.
• Prepares lesson materials and displays as needed.
• Assists in presenting subject matter under teacher guidance.
• Supervises students in classrooms, halls, and during activities.
• Uses behavior modification and positive reinforcement to support students.
• Maintains confidentiality of student information.
• Assists with self-care, hygiene, and feeding as necessary.
• Supports substitute teachers and maintains a professional classroom environment.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Lift 50 lbs

Push/Pull 10 lbs

Detail oriented

Teamwork

Education

Educator license (paraprofessional endorsement)

ROE#17 license

Job description

Parkside

Department: Building Personnel

Reports to: Principal/Assistant Principal

FLSA Class: Non-Exempt

FTE: 1.0

Summary

This position is responsible for working closely with students in a general education classroom with students with learning disabilities, autism, or mild behaviours on a regular basis in an effort to provide them with the support they need to gain full benefit from the District's special education program.

Job Description

Position Title: Paraprofessional - Special Education

Location: Parkside

Department: Building Personnel

Reports to: Principal/Assistant Principal

FLSA Class: Non-Exempt

FTE: 1.0

Summary

This position is responsible for working closely with students in a general education classroom with students with learning disabilities, autism, or mild behaviours on a regular basis in an effort to provide them with the support they need to gain full benefit from the District's special education program.

DUTIES

• Discusses assigned duties with classroom teachers in order to coordinate instructional efforts.
• Prepares lesson materials, bulletin Board displays, exhibits, equipment, and demonstrations as needed.
• Presents subject matter to students under the direction and guidance of teachers, using lectures, discussions, or supervised role-playing methods.
• Establishes as fully as possible a supportive and sympathetic relationship with the student(s) without fostering or encouraging intense emotional involvement.
• Serves as a resource person, if and when requested, to the student personnel evaluation team conferring about one of the students to whom assigned.
• Supervises students in classrooms, halls, cafeterias, school yards, and gymnasiums, or on field trips.
• Conducts demonstrations to teach such skills as sports, dancing, and handicrafts.
• Distributes teaching materials such as textbooks, workbooks, papers, and pencils to students.
• Distributes tests and homework assignments, and collect them when they are completed.
• Enforces administration policies and rules governing students.
• Grades homework and tests, and computes and records results, using answer sheets or electronic marking devices.
• Completes required reports in a timely manner.
• Teaches socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
• Works with students with multiple physical, mental, and developmental disabilities.
• Is familiar with and uses adaptive equipment including, communication equipment, wheel chairs, adaptive feeding tools, etc.
• Assists students with self-care, hygiene, and feeding as necessary.
• May be required to perform tasks that students are not able to do, i.e. taking notes, handling materials, holding books, etc.
• May work with/handle resistive students.
• Serves as the chief source of information and help to any substitute teacher assigned in the absence of the regular teacher.
• Maintains a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality of information about students as is expected of fully licensed teachers.
• Assists the classroom teacher in other tasks necessary in maintaining a professional and positive classroom environment, and performs other teacher aide duties as may be assigned by the classroom teacher, administration or Board of Education.

Qualifications

• Must have a registered license with the Regional Office of Education #17 at the time of hire.
• Must have excellent Oral and Written communication skills to work with teachers, education support personnel, building administrators and the general public.
• Enforce school regulations and policies in a professional manner.
• Ability to maintain good working relationships with fellow employees and pupils.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Requires employee to have the ability to push/pull up to 10 lbs.
• Must be detailed oriented.

Certification

Must possess an educator license with stipulations endorsed for paraprofessional educator or professional educator license at the time of hire.

Compensation

Per the 2026-2027 Teaching Assistant Salary Schedule, the starting pay range is $19.48 - $22.40 per hour and is based upon experience.